EARLY CHILDHOOD ACTION STRATEGY COMMIT TO KEIKI INITIATIVE

RECAP: VIRTUAL MAYOR CANDIDATE FORUM TALK STORY SESSION WITH

Early Childhood Action Strategy and the Commit to Keiki Initiative held a Virtual Mayor Candidate Forum Talk Story Session with Rick Blangiardi, Candidate for Mayor of County, and discussed his stance on early childhood topics, and more. Rick Blangiardi is a former media executive who is well-known as being the longtime General Manager of News Now. Prior to returning to Hawai'i, he led TV stations in New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. He also served as President of , the country's second-largest Hispanic network. Blangiardi served in the U.S. Navy Reserve for six years and early in his career, was an Associate Head Football Coach and Defensive Coordinator at the University of Hawai'i. Blangiardi holds an MEd. from the University of Hawaii and a B.S. from Springfield College.

Blangiardi has been widely recognized for his leadership in and contributions to the non-profit community. Previously, he was the President of the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, Aloha Council; Chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; President of the Na Koa UH Football Booster Club; and has served on the boards of the American Red Cross, Hawaii Food Bank, Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation, YMCA, and many others. He is a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Hawaii and has been inducted into the Hawaii Sports Circle of Honor.

During our Candidate Forum, we learned that Blangiardi will work collaboratively with the early childhood community on building Honolulu County's capacity to support our youngest keiki and their `ohana.

700 Bishop Street, Suite 1701, Honolulu, Hawai’i • 93813 • CommitToKeiki.org